Originally Published: August 19, 2009
ACC divisional analysis
It's always the Virginia Tech show here and this year may be more of the same
By Brian Fremeau and Bill Connelly
Football Outsiders
Football Outsiders
The ACC either has an image problem, a mediocrity problem -- or both. In 2008, the conference sent a record 10 teams to bowl games, but only four were victorious. Its most prolific offense, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, ranked only 50th nationally in total yards per game a year ago. In its four years as a 12-team "superleague," it has placed a team in the top five of the final BCS Standings only once, with the Virginia Tech Hokies finishing No. 3 in 2007.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
-
ESPN The Magazine subscribers
-
Need more information?
2009 College Football Preview
Will Florida repeat as BCS champion? Which teams will surprise? Who'll walk away with the major awards? ESPN.com's 2009 college football preview has the answers.
The National Scene
- Ivan Maisel: Power surge
With stars back, there's plenty of electricity and history expected in 2009. - Power rankings: Who's No. 2?
- Preseason bowl projections
- Mark Schlabach: What's hot (and not)
- Maisel: Heisman hype not hyperbole
- 2009 Heisman Watch
- Pat Forde: Safety first at USC and UT
- Maisel: Preseason All-America team
- Schlabach: Coaches on the hot seat
- Forde: Top 40 villains
Big 12 Preview
- Maisel: Red River Rivalry revenge
- Griffin: OSU's Triplets | Northern lights
- ESPN The Magazine: Colt hero
- Griffin: Predictions | Five to watch
- FBO: Big 12 divisional analysis

- SportsNation: Rank 'em
ACC Preview
- Mark Schlabach: ACC's BCS title search
- Dinich: Hokies' hopes | Cool runnings
- Dinich: Pressure on third-year coaches
- Dinich: Predictions | Five to watch
- FBO: Preseason analysis

- SportsNation: Rank 'em
Notre Dame, MAC & Sun Belt Preview
- Woj: Weis, Irish eye improved product
- Bennett: Stars aligned for Clausen
- Bennett: Irish Golden at receiver
- Bennett: Five things to watch
- Jim Dent excerpt: "Resurrection"
- Watson: Buffalo's Roosevelt quietly stars
- MAC: Predictions | Five to watch
- Schlabach: Sun Belt quarterbacks glimmer
- Sun Belt: Predictions | Five to watch
- Rank 'em: MAC | Sun Belt
SEC East
- Schlabach: Smoth sailing for Florida
- Gators DBs corner the market
- Low: SEC coaching carousel a wild ride
- FBO: SEC divisional analysis

- Low: Hybrid players all the rage
- Five things to watch in the SEC East
SEC West
- Forde: Rebels with a cause
- Low: Big Two QBs and who?
- Schlabach: Hogs' Mallett more than myth
- Low: LSU follows the leader
- Low: Living on the edge
- Five things to watch in the SEC West
Pac-10
- Miller: Fall of Troy will take a 9-team effort
- Miller: Where have all the QB stars gone?
- Miller: Stanford hoping for lots of Luck
- Miller: Washington's Locker has no regrets
- Miller: Rise and shine for Oregon QB Masoli
- Five things to watch in the Pac-10
- Pac-10 predictions
Big East
- Maisel: Marrone ready to rebuild Syracuse
- Bennett: Big East race a jumble
- Bennett: Grothe, Selvie have Bulls focused
- Big East Predictions
- Five things to watch in the Big East
- SportsNation: Rank 'em
C-USA, MWC and WAC Preview
- Watson: Fletcher eyes redemption
- C-USA Predictions
- Five things to watch in C-USA
- SportsNation on C-USA: Rank 'em
- Watson: Pitta grows into BYU's main weapon
- Watson: Utah's gamble pays off
- MWC Predictions
- Five things to watch in the MWC
- SportsNation on MWC: Rank 'em
- Watson: Boise still the WAC team to beat
- WAC Predictions
- Five things to watch in the WAC
- SportsNation WAC: Rank 'em
- FBO: How good is the Non-BCS

Big Ten Preview
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HEADLINES
- Rumors: KU coaching options
- Feldman: A Week 12 wrap-up
- Tools: Game Predictor | PickCenter
- Draft: Mel's Big Board (11/18) | NFL draft blog


